MEMORIAL OF SAINT NARCISSUS, BISHOP OF JERUSALEM – FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 29TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Narcissus, Bishop of Jerusalem. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We pray for the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. We pray for peace, love, justice and unity in our marriages, our families and our world. We pray for the aged, the sick and dying, especially those who are mentally and physically ill, those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. We pray for all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, the Bishops, the Clergy, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world…. Amen🙏
SAINT NARCISSUS, BISHOP OF JERUSALEM: St. Narcissus (c. 99 – c. 216 A.D.) was an early patriarch of Jerusalem, a holy and esteemed priest of Greek origin who became the 30th bishop of Jerusalem in the year 180 A.D., about a century after the city’s destruction by the Romans. He was known as a miracle-worker, as well as for governing his diocese with vigor and discipline despite his advanced age, being in his 80th year when he was made bishop. Born toward the end of the first century, St. Narcissus was advanced in age when he was elected bishop of Jerusalem during the second century. Not much is known about St. Narcissus besides the fact that he was the bishop of Jerusalem and led a very holy life. His holiness inspired those under him to be holy as well.
In 195 A.D. St. Narcissus was part of a council of bishops who settled the date for the observance of Easter, deciding on Sunday and not the ancient Jewish Passover. St. Narcissus and Theophilus, bishop of Caesarea in Palestine, presided together over a council of the bishops of Palestine held at Caesarea around Easter. There it was decreed that the feast be kept always on a Sunday, and not continually with the Jewish Passover. He was a miracle worker. The bishop and historian Eusebius says the following miracle can be attributed to him: One year on Easter-eve the deacons did not have any oil for the lamps in the church, which was necessary at the solemn divine office on that day. St. Narcissus ordered those who had care of the lamps to bring him some water from the neighboring wells. This being done, he pronounced a devout prayer over the water. Then he bade them pour it into the lamps; which they did. The water was immediately converted into oil, to the great surprise of all the faithful. Some of this miraculous oil was kept there as a memorial at the time when Eusebius wrote his history.
Despite his reputation as a holy bishop, St. Narcissus drew opposition. The veneration of all good men for this holy bishop, however, could not shelter him from the malice of the wicked. Three incorrigible sinners, fearing his severity in the observance of ecclesiastical discipline, accused him of a terrible act and prayed that he might be cursed by God in punishment. The sinners swore that they were right, adding the following to their testimony and affirmed with violent oaths. “May I be burned alive if I am lying,” said the first. “May I be stricken with leprosy,” said the second. “May I be deprived of my sight,” said the third, if what they alleged was not the truth. Their accusations were false, however, and soon Divine Retribution called upon them. His enemies meanwhile were struck by the calamities that they wished upon him. The first was burnt in his house along with his whole family by an accidental fire in the night, the second was struck with a universal leprosy and the third, terrified by these examples, confessed the conspiracy and slander, and by the abundance of tears which he continually shed for his sins, lost his sight before his death.
Though vindicated, indeed few people at the time had believed the accusation brought against St. Narcissus who could not stand the shock of the bold calumny. This took a toll on the saint, and, forgiving his persecutors, St. Narcissus use the scandal as an excuse to leave Jerusalem and go into retreat to spend some time in solitude, to pray constantly without distraction, an ambition which he had long cherished. He retired from public life and lived as a hermit for many years. He spent several years undiscovered in his retreat, where he enjoyed all the happiness and advantage which a close conversation with God can bestow. During his absence, the neighboring bishops appointed a new pastor for his church until St. Narcissus returned. First Dius (or Pius), then Germanius, and then Gordius filled his see. St. Narcissus lived in such complete solitude that it was widely assumed that he had died, and his sudden return to Jerusalem had the same effect as if he had indeed come back from the dead. Upon his return, the faithful rejoiced and convinced him to once again undertake the administration of the diocese, which he did. As he reached extreme old age, he made St. Alexander his coadjutor. St. Narcissus continued to serve his flock, and even other churches, by his assiduous prayers and his earnest exhortations to unity and concord, as St. Alexander testifies in his letter to the Arsinoites in Egypt, where he says that St. Narcisus was at that time about one hundred and sixteen (116) years old. He died about the 216 AD, Aelia Capitolina. St. Narcissus is the Patron Saint of the aged and against insect bites. His feast day is October 29th.
PRAYER: God, You made St. Narcissus an outstanding exemplar of Divine love and the faith that conquers the world, and added him to the roll of saintly pastors. Grant by his intercession that we may persevere in faith and love and become sharers of his glory. Amen 🙏